Math 199 - Problem Solving and Putnam Preparation

Spring 2000

Geoff Mess, Terry Tao, Christoph Thiele


Homework is due Tuesday June 13th!  Please hand in your assignments to any one of the three lecturers.


This course is intended for math undergraduates interested in mathematical problem solving, and also as training for those of you who are interested in participating in the Putnam competition next December.  This course is quite different from the regular math courses offered at UCLA, which are focussed on a single branch of mathematics and specific types of applications.  This course is less formal, and emphasizes problem solving, creative thought, and exposition skills rather than learning theory or specialized techniques for solving specific problems.


We meet weekly.  At each session we discuss one or two interesting mathematical problems.  Generally, these problems require some thought and ingenuity to solve, and usually cannot be done just by textbook application of various recipes taught in other courses.  Each week, the students are expected to write up solutions to these mathematical problems.  Emphasis will be given not just for getting the answer correct, but for explaining it in a clear manner.  The assignments will be graded in detail, with attention given to exposition as well as technique and correctness.  Even if you don't obtain a complete answer, please do write up any partial progress or other thoughts on the problem; we will read them and comment on them thoroughly.

This course is worth 2 units of course credit, and the assessment consists of the weekly homework assignments.  Students who wish to participate for credit should fill out a Math 199 enrollment form from the Math Department office, and present it to Geoff Mess for signing.



First homework assignment (to be discussed in the Apr 11 session, then due at the next session on Apr 18):

Second homework assignment (to be discussed in the Apr 18 session, then due at the next session on Apr 25)

Third homework assignment (to be discussed in the Apr 25 session, then due at the next session on May 2)

Fourth homework assignment (to be discussed in the May 2 session, then due at the next session on May 9)

The fifth assignment is concerned with the pigeonhole principle, and is due May 30:

The sixth assignment is the 1999 Canadian Mathematical Olympiad, and is due June 13:

This page can be found at http://www.math.ucla.edu/~tao/putnam